Wanting a little louder

[iamjustifyd]

Heya folks,
I would like to get the bike to be a little louder when I'm riding. 1980 cm400..any way to do this without buying new exhaust? I'm not that mechanically inclined and not wanting to put a lot of money into it.
Thanks

I've seen this most commonly accomplished by drilling out the baffles of the stock pipes. The baffles can be removed completely or you can simply drill holes in the back of them. I would not advize removing the baffles completely, at least not at first. If you just drill some holes in the back it should give you a little more sound without affecting performance much. If the holes are too big or the baffles are removed the bike might not run right. You can always enlarge the holes as you see fit, but be careful unless you want to rejet the carbs or something like that.

[stein75]

coons213 is right about the carb rejet.
if you take the baffles out completely you may also have problems getting an inspection sticker.
my current situation, the previous owner took them out of my bike and i can't get a sticker.

[iamjustifyd]

If I drill holes I'm guessing they should not be big holes? and not a lot of them. and should I do in both to keep things balanced? thanks

[CW_SQUARE@comcast.net]

why dont you try going to your local cycle shop and check out if the have some lightly used pipes they are willing to unload.

I just drilled my pipes on my suzuki vl800

4 holes each 1/2" each. a little louder, and I love it.

I say go for it. but it's your call.

I used a step bit, down to 1/2". 8 holes took 5 min.

why dont you try going to your local cycle shop and check out if the have some lightly used pipes they are willing to unload.

Great idea.

Also, 1/2 inch seems to be a good size. I have three holes in each, but my bike is a little smaller.

I distinctly remember a warning stamped on the outside of my muffler assembly (back when I had them on the bike LOL) that stated something along the lines of "tampering is a violation of federal law"!

So don't make me turn all of you in to the Mattress Tag Police! </joke>

Read:
http://www.aimag.com/epa/Jan06-pt1.htm

[cecilbdml]

Don't bend over when you drop the soap!

[Pamm R]

I put 7 7/16 holes in my suzuki 1800 and it sounds better than stock. It did not change the way iy runs. Just now I can hear when I want to shift. I started with an 1/4 inch hole then went to 7/16 . First i did 3 holes and it sounded to much like a tin can sound. so after 7 it went back to a deep sound in my bike, yours may be different

[Animedevildog]

I think I am going to try the holes thing on my exhaust this week. The exhaust note on my ACE is non-existant at an idle it seems, and I would like to get more bark from it. (hey, as they say, Loud Pipes Save Lives) Unfortunatly, money is an issue for me, so buying a new exhaust is at the moment out of the question.

[lpmasamune]

mount a few megaphones. that should be fun.

[Animedevildog]

I did that trick with the drill, and it worked well for me. My bike is somewhat louder with a bit of a bark to it now. also, it seems to have freed up a few ponies for me. Not a whole lot, mind you, but enough to notice.

[shadyrider]

Hey i just got my first bike a couple months ago. Its a 04 shadow 600 and have been thinking about doing the same. Are you guys drilling the bottom of the exhaust. I am a complete noob so bare with me.

[Animedevildog]

Not the bottom, but the back plate of the muffler.

[subhuman]

Originally Posted by Animedevildog

I did that trick with the drill, and it worked well for me. My bike is somewhat louder with a bit of a bark to it now. also, it seems to have freed up a few ponies for me. Not a whole lot, mind you, but enough to notice.

Did you have to rejet devildog? I've been considering doing this as well, but I've never had to rejet my carburetors and don't know how.

[Animedevildog]

Originally Posted by subhuman

Did you have to rejet devildog? I've been considering doing this as well, but I've never had to rejet my carburetors and don't know how.

hey fellow Leatherneck, just so you know, for that, I do not have to rejet. If I move the e-clip on the needles down one notch, that should bring it right back to where it needs to be.

What is it you ride subhuman?

[subhuman]

Its an 85 Shadow VT700C. Thanks for the help, I'm going to go for it, my carbs are in need of a rejet anyhow. Hopefully I can find something around here that'll help me out with that.

[Animedevildog]

Well, I'd say if you could get to my place, I might be able to help you with that, but it's gonna be tricky riding across the water! (maybe if you build up enough speed, you can hydroplane across? jk)

[subhuman]

I'll see you Sunday

[Animedevildog]

LMAO!!!

[DennisTheMenace]

I got the jugs bub huggers on my honda vtx 1300 c its a nice sound, not too loud but not quite. you can crack it well

[bbrooks903]

Originally Posted by Animedevildog

I think I am going to try the holes thing on my exhaust this week. The exhaust note on my ACE is non-existant at an idle it seems, and I would like to get more bark from it. (hey, as they say, Loud Pipes Save Lives) Unfortunatly, money is an issue for me, so buying a new exhaust is at the moment out of the question.

how did that work out for you i have an ace and was debating on doin it?

[gr8fuljohn]

I just drilled out my baffles and it made my bike sound real nice

[Animedevildog]

Originally Posted by bbrooks903

how did that work out for you i have an ace and was debating on doin it?

Great to see a fellow ACE rider!

It worked nicely for me. I do have a spot in the powerband that is running a bit lean (guess I won't be riding up Mt. Washington) but overall, I did notice an increase of power (due to slightly less exhaust restriction) and a little more sound out of the bike.

I still want more though. I intend on making a custom muffler for the ACE that will give considerable more of an angry growl and virtually zero exhaust restriction. I have done some looking, and I can make this for about the same cost as buying an aftermarket exhaust, but will give the look that I want. To match this, I will have to greatly open up the air cleaner housing and install a Stage III jet kit into it. In the end, I should have a marked increase of power.

[Tattoo Paul]

I don't know how things are down your way, but here in the New England area there are a lot of towns that are cracking down on modified / loud exhausts. Nice juicy tickets to help close the budget deficits.

[Animedevildog]

Yeah, I know about all that Paul. Here in Maine, the City of Portland was cracking down the hardest, and UBM stepped up to the plate. Thay've toned it down a bit on the crackdown. There are a few other communities in Southern Maine doin that as well, and up here in the Waterville area, we have one Statie who seems to be on a personal vendetta against any and all loud bikes. Officer MacGuyer. I call him Lizzie.

[subhuman]

I drilled mine out too, I put about five 1/4" holes in each pipe. It sounds great and my bike was running rich so it kind of evened out now. I can feel a slight increase in power as well. I'm glad I did it.

[Mr_CRF]

just remember that you will probally have to rejet after drilling the baffels